Thousands persevere in pink for Mother’s Day Classic return

AN OCEAN of pink descended on Eastern Park for Mother’s Day with more than 1,500 walkers and runners spending their weekend raising awareness, raising funds and getting the heart pumping for breast cancer.

The annual Mother’s Day Classic returned to Geelong after two years of cancellations and virtual events and none were more excited about the turnout than organiser and mother Kristin McMaster.

“It was fantastic seeing everybody take some time out of this special weekend to do something community oriented,” Ms McMaster said.

“I became the organiser for this event in September of last year when I saw a social media post encouraging applications to join the Victorian committee for this event, and it’s been great to get this event up and running again.

“Next year we’ll definitely be looking to build upon this year’s turnout.”

Stalls and musical acts from organisations and musicians such as RACV and Dixie Dukes kept participants entertained between start times for each walk/run.

The event’s stage area provided an opportunity for Mother’s Day Classic Geelong ambassador Jessica Neivandt to tell her story about how she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and her inspiring new outlook on life, providing an emotional element to the day’s proceedings, but also a message of hope.

Runners and walkers took on four-kilometre and eight-kilometre courses around Eastern Park with starts scheduled from 7.50am to 9.20am as funds were collected from registrations.

“Funds raised from the day will again go directly into research for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) as they have done so for the past 25 years,” Ms McMaster said.

“The NBCF has funded 79 research projects over that time and last year alone $2 million has been put into reviews for breast cancer research which have shown some amazing findings, particularly focusing on risk factors and ways to improve treatments.”

“When this research first commenced, the five-year survival rate was 76 per cent. That has grown to 91.5 per cent, proof that the research is making a difference.”

Mother’s Day Classic participants have raised $1,698,890 in 2022 across the nation with Geelong’s figures to be announced early next week.

Head to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/howyoucanhelp to find out how to be a part of 2023’s Mother Day Classic.